Good afternoon. Uh, welcome to the Town of Air Executive by board meeting for Thursday, January 21st, 2021 at 2 PM. This is an open session remote participation. >> 2 p.m. Robert. 2 PM. >> 2 PM. Thank you. At 2 p.m.
>> Open session remote participation meeting. Due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, Governor Baker issued an emergency order temporarily suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law. Public bodies otherwise governed by the open meeting law are temporarily
relieved from the requirement that meetings be held in public places open and physically accessible to the public so long as measures are taken to ensure public access to the body's deliberations through adequate alternative means. This meeting will be
broadcast live on channel 8 and on Zoom. The public may participate remotely by following the call-in information on the bottom of the live broadcast screen. For the Zoom meeting information relating to remote participation, please contact
Cindy Knox, IT director at coxair.mma. us or 9787728252. Prior to the meeting, I will introduce the members of the executive by board in accordance with these open meeting law provisions. The by board consists of
selectman Scott Hood, Mr. Patrick Diamond, chair of the fincom, Mr. Mark Smith, vice chair of the FINCOM, Miss Lisa Gabri, finance manager, Miss Barbara Tierney, treasurer and tax collector, Miss Carly Antineellis,
assistant town manager, and I'm Robert Pompan, the town manager. The meeting agenda, just for the public's benefit, uh, we've had the call to order. We'll do the approval of the minutes momentarily. We have an FY21 budget update, an FY22
draft number one omnibus review and discussion which Lisa and I will sort of lead the group on some of the topics. Um a discussion on the proposal for the reserve fund increase for FY22 and then a review discussion of the
budget public forum presentation for January 27th, 2021. any new business and then scheduling of the next meeting and adjournment and we are going to use a series of shared screens as well. Uh
those documents from the shared screens uh will be available under the budget page on the town's website or through request uh through my office as well for for the public's uh benefit. So with that, uh, the minutes the we're looking
the approval of previous meet meetings from December 10th, 2020. Uh, Barbara did point out a couple of of typos that we'll fix on page two um towards the bottom. It should be discussion on first
budget public information. And there was another one under FY22 budget preparation where it should say from last year instead of last year. So, two uh typos there. Are there any other edits or questions on those minute
meeting minutes? >> Nope. >> I don't have any. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Barb did a good job of cleaning them up. >> So, would be looking for a motion. >> I will make a motion that we approve the
minutes of December 10th. >> Second. Motion made by Pat Diamond, seconded by Carly Antineellis. Roll call. Barbara Tierney. >> I. >> Carly Anteneellis. >> I. >> Lisa Gabri.
>> Scott Hood. >> Hi. >> Matt Diamond. >> I >> Mark Smith. >> I. >> It is unanimous by roll call. The next item on the FY21 budget update, the budget we're on now,
just real briefly, um the good news is things on the FY21 budget remain largely status quo, status quo in terms of revenues, status quo in terms of spending. Everything remains pretty much on target, which is good. One thing that
Lisa continues to remind me of and we want to just remind this group of as we're moving through getting CARES reimbursement funds. So through the CARES Act, COVID related expenses are reimburseable. That process which Lisa has been the
point on involves going through both um MIMA and the CARES program. We are looking to get as much of the reimbursement as possible and it looks pretty good. Uh she does just want to caution that as we move forward there is
a chance that there could be some what we believe are co 19 reimburseable expenses. There could be some that ultimately are not reimburseable and if that is the case then we'll need to have a discussion uh whe whether it's the buy board the select board and the fincom
about funding for those. The good news is we don't see that yet at this time. Uh Lisa has done a great job sort of being pre proactive with do to get sort of if you will pre-approval but it's just caution. We don't anticipate this
to be a huge issue, but just want to make sure in full disclosure that everybody is aware that though the intent is for full reimbursement, if there is a chance that there is some that isn't, uh, we'll need to discuss a funding mechanism for that.
>> Robert, can I ask what is the magnitude of the exposure here? So the maximum magnitude the town of air is eligible for up to $711,000 for re of COVID 19 reimburseables and
that's been extended now through December 31st of 2021 to date and Lisa if you want to to date what have we spent of the 71 you're muted. Sorry. The town alone has spent uh about
$177,000. Um some of that was over time related to shift replacements for for either exposures or expected um questionable exposures. And there was also the $30,000 for the telephone
system for the town hall and also $30,000 for a c for the fire department, an automated cot. Um and and the schools have each requested around $200,000 each. So um it it and the only thing
I've heard back on as far as um funding is MIMA has looked at our first application which I believe was $44,000 and took off about 2,000. The second application is a little bit less because it was a much shorter
window. was only through the middle of November. Um, we do anticipate doing a third application, although I don't know what the deadline is on that yet. Um, so we could be theoretically hitting up against that $711,000
at some point. Um, we hope not to or we hope that the federal government will um possibly um put aside more funding for cities and towns. So Pat, uh,
>> kind of questionable right now, Pat. I think that a lot of it is going to be refunded as far as it's specific to MIMA will only cover really first responders um, related to an incident like overtime
for replacing shifts or PPE for first responders. That's all MIMO will cover. CARES Act, however, is way more generous. It covers remote access so that we can have meetings like this. Um we can work from home if needed. Um
they're they're much more generous and that's what you see the schools asking for is monies to cover remote access that's not funded by MIMA because the schools also have to and I know the tax school has already applied for MIMA. I
think Bill just started applying for it last week just filling out the application. So, um, it's in progress. I I don't have a crystal ball. I mean, I guess our maximum exposure will be the $711,000, but I don't think that's going
to happen. Um, what it will be. I I believe that they all all the expenses that we've charged to CO account um should qualify as CO expenses through the CARES Act at least
because we wouldn't have those expenses unless there was a CO Thanks, Lisa. That's good. >> Okay, so again, FY21 re remains pretty stable at this time.
We'll of course keep everybody updated the minute there's any sort of deviation um from that. So, the next item is the FY uh 22 draft number one omnibus budget, which you all
have. And again, for the public's benefit, that's under the 2020 2022 budget page under the town manager page on the on the town's website. And uh this was sent to the fincom and the select board on January 8th for the
budget calendar. I did meet uh with Mr. the diamond and the fincom on January 13th which is sort of just a general discussion and we did the similar uh with selectman Hood and the uh select board on January 19th at your meeting.
And so what I thought for this afternoon um before we touch upon the actual omnibus budget and any questions or input um that you may have and again just to stress for everybody's benefit, everybody knows this. It is a draft. It
is the first draft. This is a process. There's obviously going to be changes um even since the January 8th. Um, Miss Capabri has identified some lines as have I that there are some changes which we'll talk about. Uh, but we definitely
want to get uh your input um as well before we go to the omnibus budget. Uh, Miss Gabri has done a first pass at the revenue uh projections and I did send that to everybody uh today and we can
pull that up on the screen and just want to stress uh it's a first pass. It's very conservative. Uh Lisa and I would appreciate any input, thoughts, suggestions, and so here it comes up on the screen and I'm going to turn it over
to Lisa to sort of just give a general overview and hit upon some of the key points and then let's hear from folks on next steps. So Lisa, go ahead. >> Okay. So the first thing um I did was assumed a 10% reduction in state aid.
I don't have anywhere that I'm getting um I can't reference anything that says that for you. I just thought that the worst case scenario is possibly a 10% cut in state aid. Um the second thing
you'll notice that I used a 10-year past a less than 10 year pass even less than five year pass average for new growth. So I have it in at 500,000. oftentimes theores will come in at 350 and then they will ultimately bump it up. So we'll we'll
have to wait and see what they uh what information they give us. You'll notice that on the debt exclusion overrides. Yes, there's money that we collect in the taxes, but we also pay it out. But you will note that you should note that we're paying off the town hall renovations this year in the solid waste
landfill finally. So, it's it that portion of my um debt exclusion has dropped about $221,000. I do anticipate the debt exclusion for the schools has also dropped a little um but I don't have that information yet until they uh u their budget
presentation. Um, local receipts. Uh, I was very conservative with local receipts. Um, down to asking Carly about, you know, items that were $300. But the biggest thing is that cannabis
excise tax, which we received $288,000 this year for the first two quarters of this year. I've only used $300,000 for the entire next year. I think this is extremely uh conservative. As far as the town of Shirley's uh region dispatch
agreement, I know there's one in the works. I used what would be FY21's um contracted amount and there is an escalation in that so of of about 20 to 30,000. Right, Robert?
>> Correct. >> Okay. So, and I haven't seen the details on that. Uh, but I'm hopeful that the select board in Shirley and the select board in air uh can sign that agreement sooner than later. Um,
what else do I have? I did assume that in our local receipts, I did assume that the 75% reduction that the slight board voted for certain um licenses and permits under their department will still be in place in FY22.
Um the although um the state has not certified our free cash yet, um our DOI rep Bobby Joe is is uh estimating that she will have it certified by the end of January. But
I know in fact that it's going to be at least a million dollars because the budget actuals in the expenditures alone, not even considering the revenues that we didn't anticipate, um we had favorable variances of almost
a million dollars just in the expenses. It doesn't count the favorable variances in um revenues which we also had. Um, so I I believe this is a very conservative budget
first pass. I'm hopeful that it will increase as time goes on and as we get more information. Does anyone have any questions? So I would just like to add so back to so on the regional um dispatch agreement
the plan is for both is for it to be before the air select board at the February uh second meeting and conversely February 1st at the Shirley Select Board. Um that number in terms of the revenue amount um as Lisa pointed
out will actually be higher than the 145. um the the escal there's an escalator um for for FY22 and for FY23. So, we'll have more information in that sort of fi the goal is to have that tied
finalized um on February uh the 3. One of the other things Lisa and I was talking about this morning, we sort of will use these projections for the purposes of Wednesday's first public forum. And we'll of course stress that
they are very conservative and that there are as an every year some you know variables or variances within that but are there any other questions or concerns or thoughts on any of the um information and I know we're just
talking about it now. So as you digest it over the next couple days as well if please send uh me any input as well. Um, Robert, I just had a quick question for Lisa on the um cannabis excise tax. What
What What did you use like for your >> Did you use like this whole past year even though they were closed for COVID or did you take that into consideration? >> I wasn't really sure what to use, Carly, because >> we just for those reasons. We didn't
They were closed for a while. Could they again? Who knows? that could close again, >> right? >> We It looks like the town will be getting a half over a half a million dollars in cannabis excise taxes each year. Um, kudos to us.
>> And um, but it's I don't have a crystal ball. I don't know what's going to happen. >> Yeah. And then I just wanted to point out and it's very conceptual at this point, but the state has now allowed new licenses whereby if you have a um
cultivation facility, you can basically deliver it anywhere and bypass the retail stage, which will affect some of the the license or the retail sales that we do see. It's very early on in that process and there's going to be a
lawsuit and it's a mess, but just it could affect eventually our our receipts on that. So, just for everyone, >> so all the more reason to keep it conservative, I think. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, Lisa, this is Scott. I think it's
a good approach given where we're at. Um, Carly, thanks for the question around the cannabis. That definitely seems to be a variable going forward. So, I think the conservative estimate is worthwhile. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Any other initial questions, concerns, comments on the initial revenue projections? Okay. So, what we'll do then again as folks look it over and review it, if there are any questions or so forth,
please let uh Lisa or I know. Uh and we will be using a version of this for Wednesday with of course the disclaimer that it's sort of the initial um projections and are on the very conservative side and we can touch upon
that. Okay. Um, next and Cindy, if you could pull up the the omnibus budget, please on the shared screen. So
as mentioned this is the first draft of the budget and it largely re it largely represents if you will the level services budget as requested or as submitted by um departments and
obviously subject to review and revision as we move forward here. So it come here it comes. Um as I've mentioned to everybody and just for public disclosure um the budget does not this omnibus
version budget does not include the following. It does not include any costs associated with the police and dispatch uh contract which expires on June 30th. The negotiations are underway on that.
There are two non-union contracts, the treasurer tax collector and the DPW superintendent contract that also expire on June 30th. It does not include any COLA recommendation uh for non-UN and elected officials and
we generally have a presentation and discussion on that um in February. Additionally, um, on it, as I pointed out, if you look at under the regional dispatch, uh, when that was submitted, there's about
$200,000 that has to be netted in that. So, there's about $200,000 that's going to be coming out of that. And that's because the state 911 grant funds it. when it was submitted, this budget was submitted by the police department, it
included, if you will, that 200,000, but we're going to get that from a grant. So, that's a positive um decrease, if you will. And then Lisa has also identified uh in the police budget overall approximately about another
$50,000 um in that budget that could be um adjusted downward and not impact uh services. Additionally, as we going through the lines, uh Lisa and I, there are some
other areas uh where there can be, if you will, some further scrubbing. For example, the town council budget last year was $100,000. I requested 90,000. Since that request, a reduction about
10,000. The way it's trending and especially with CO 19 trending, uh there's, for example, some room there for that to come down. And that's what we're um actively looking for um to identify is uh reductions or adjustments
that have minimal impact on uh services. So there are two things before we get to any input that you may have. There are two things Lisa and I would like to get some direction on. and we sort of raised
some of this at the fincom and maybe at the select board. The first is the budget that's before you is the same um format that we've done every year and of course every year we've not had the co
19 issue. The question is there are some departments that have been significantly I'm trying to scroll down. There are some departments that have been significantly impacted by CO 19. It's
not a reflection of the departments. It's the nature of the pandemic. Specifically, the Council on Aging, Parks and Recreation, and the library have had and and all three, you know, departments continue to uh be proactive
and innovative in this, but they've been negatively impacted from COVID. For example, the beach did not open parks and wreck. The beach did not open in the spring and so forth. And I'm sorry, I'm just trying to the
scrolling is >> uh the pox is the first one to be 0610 >> 0610. >> No, that's library. I'm sorry. >> Hang on. I'm trying to find >> They're all in the 600. No, no, actually. Um,
>> bear with me, folks. Council on aging would be first. 015. Do you want me to do it, Robert? Can I do this? >> Park park department's online 597. >> Thank you. >> Lisa, turn it over to you.
>> Can you put Lisa in the driver's seat? >> I sure will. >> All right, everybody. So, while we're getting that set up, what we want to show you is there are two ways that we can move forward with this budget. One way is to
just fund everything in the budget. Show everything in the budget as we move forward. That's the sort of standard what we're all used to. Okay. Like, so here's the parks budget. >> Sorry. >> I was looking for C coa first.
>> Okay. Okay, you can do that's okay. >> Here we go. Here's COA. >> Okay. So, on the council on aging budget, as you see it here, there's an $87,000 uh dollar reduction. It's it's a considerable reduction. Now, I want to
point out that there are two positions in here, not related to CO 19, but related to other efficiencies and service and in program scope that the director and Lisa met on that are going to be taken out of the budget and we can
talk about that in more detail. So there is a a reduction of of some personnel in there, but there's also, as Lisa can explain, reductions that were taken out under the assumption that these services
won't be able to happen during the budget. And so the thought was, so you see for the sake of argument, there's the 87,000. The thought is, and this ties into our recommendation of increasing the reserve fund,
if on some of these things that most likely may not be able to initially happen, we could remove the specific amount from the budget and put it, if you will, internally in the reserve fund
under the assumption that once the service or the program can happen or once COVID ends, we could fund it from the reserve. The benefit of that, if you will, is really a I'm going to call it an optical benefit for town meeting. In other
words, at town meeting, if folks ask, well, why are we funding X if it if it may not happen or so forth, you could reduce it with the understanding when we can do it, we'll take it from the reserve fund. Now, that's not the only reason we're asking to increase the
reserve fund to 300,000. The main reason to increase the reserve fund is the uncertainty that remains with COVID 19. And we'll get to that point in a minute. What are folks thoughts? I know in meeting with the FINCOM, the FINCOM
after we talked through it was um partial towards and I'm leaning this way as well of just showing the budget as we always do. In other words, fund these things and then deal with it as we come. Or the alternative is we could remove
them from the budget and put them in um the reserve fund. >> Hey Robert, this is Scott. >> Yep. >> Um so this question came up years and years ago. >> Okay.
at the time. So, do has the restriction on the reserve fund transfer that has to be unforeseen and there can be a view where if you reduce a budget, improve it through town meeting and try to res fund it through
the reserve fund transfer that you've created that shortfall. One of one example is the the ZBA uh budget from years ago when that got zeroed out at town meeting. Uh and then a few years before that was another situation
where one of the budgets was looking to be reduced just to kind of get things to a certain level on the expense side and the initial thought was well we can just go with reserve fund transfer if we do need that. Um
so I would kind of caution against stripping everything out on council on aging. I'm more of a advocate to just fund everything as going forward like as normal and hoping that maybe since this
budget will begin on July 1 that um things will be semi-normal so that we can have some of the programs available. >> Agreed. And and actually that's a good point Scott. I didn't think of it quite
that way but it's true as everyone knows the reserve fund is either unforeseen or extra ordinary situation but in a way you could be looking at that it was sort of foreseen other thoughts I I I think in the fincom
I know at at that meeting too as we talked about it it was looking in the direction of sort of funding everything and moving forward and obviously explaining to town meeting that and obviously if certain things can't happen
it won't be you know spent um seems to be the way to go but we just wanted to make sure that we had the discussion with you all and get any thoughts on that and and so on that COA budget for example that you just saw
then there would be some funding going back into that in other words um some of that reduction was and we sort of did this just as an experiment at this level. some of that 87,000 would go back back in if you will, but there is a
reduction based within that budget as well, not related to COVID. And the other one, Lisa, as if you go to the parks is another good one to illustrate it. And we did meet Lisa and I with the chair of the parks commission and the parks and
recck director had the same discussion. So here we left it in just so lifeguard wages you'll see is 45,828. Now last year uh this past spring they did not open the waterfront because of
CO 19 uh concerns. Um so again we would leave this in for this budget explaining you know the budget goes into effect July 1st. Hopefully the beach will be able to open or open at some point and just leave it as
opposed to taking this 45,000 out if you will. >> Could I just interject for one minute? I do agree with Scott um about his unforeseen and I just wasn't thinking about it that way. >> Me too. I wasn't thinking of it either. >> So, but I so I think it is a better
option to fully fund. Um, >> and now I just lost my train of thought. Oh man, if it doesn't get spent, that's my my thought. Just like this year FY21, we haven't had to say like have the we
couldn't have the fireworks. We can't go to training. So, a lot of expenses, even the overtime to some extent seems less than it usually is. So, there there will be some impacts to free cash. So anything we don't spend, we'll just go
close to free cash. It's not a bad thing. >> Yeah. I and I understand the optics around uh particularly like Council on Aging and and Parks Department, but you know, I think part of the message needs to be that there is a lot of unknown as
we get into the second half of 2021, which is when this budget will begin. So we need to be prepared in the event that things do return to normal that we can go back to providing the necessary services as before.
Agreed. >> Okay. >> Okay. So it seems not only from this conversation but when the finance committee on the 13th when they met it seems that the I think it's in our best interest and there seems to be
consensus to proceed with the budget fully funded um and not reduce these items at this point. So unless there's objection, we'll we'll move in that direction. >> Which then ties into the second point
and I know I've talked to the select board on the 19th and the finome on the 13th and the issue of um in the interest of time I don't want to spend a lot of time on it because we've already talked about it. Uh but the recommendation which has seemed to be favorably
received there's been no formal vote taken is to increase the reserve fund from 150,000 to 300,000 for FY22 due to the CO 19 pandemic. Again I think this is more of a policy of being
proactive and a safeguard hopefully and you have with you. It's one of the other attachments we don't need to pull up Cindy. will keep the budget up. But you have, if you look at the 5-year history Lisa prepared on the reserve fund, 150 has seemed to be a pretty good number.
We've pretty much have come in on target or slightly below over the last five years. Hopefully, when we're doing the FY23 budget a year from now, it'd be awesome. We'd be back in a position maybe we go back to the 150. that we
just feel strongly based on all of the uncertainty that I think it's in the best interest uh to increase it to 300,000. Now, as Lisa pointed out and as all of you know, I mean, obviously there's the stabilization account. There
are other reserves and procedures um in place, other reserves for you know larger or catastrophic um things but we just think on the reserve fund that increase would be prudent. Um any
questions on that and we will touch upon that at the public forum on Wednesday. We'll probably have a slide for that just in full disclosure so people understand what the reserve fund is, what it isn't because I think a lot of times that nasty phrase slush fund gets
used. People need to understand there's a good system of controls on that that you know there's the boss in many cases. I mean in many cases the select board has to vote and the FINCOM in the elected case it's you know just the FINCOM as well as the criteria as to
what can be done and not. So, any concerns on that? And again, we're not at this point, we don't need necessarily a formal vote, but okay. So, we're going to move forward on
the it's not etched in stone on the 300,000 and we'll uh have a slide within the presentation. We'll touch upon it on Wednesday for the for the public's um benefit as well.
So we come back to if you will the omnibus budget real quick and we're going to touch upon this obviously on Wednesday as well specifically you know some of the drivers and so forth. If you look at it, it's largely level service
budget. The drivers are the personnel, the contractual personnel costs of the largest driver. As I mentioned, 200,000 be coming out from the regional dispatch and probably another 50,000 is another 50,000 that has been identified in
police and some of the other lines. Are there other initial thoughts, reactions, comments, uh concerns? >> I don't have any other concerns. I had emailed you my questions and I think and
your response um cleared everything up. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Okay. So, as we um move forward with this and as I mentioned, everything will be clearly labeled as we go through the different drafts as you if you have any
questions, any suggestions, ideas, let Lisa and I know. If you get questions from the public or so forth, send them our way. Um and we'd be happy to. We want everybody to have the information, have the accurate information. We want
everybody's, you know, questions to get um answered as well. Um so with that, lastly, as I mentioned of the overall budget process, um in terms of
next steps, the middle of February, we will have the health insurance numbers. Kevin has a 12% increase in the health insurance on the budget. We're c we're we're optimistic that it won't be 12%. We'll keep you posted so there's another
opportunity. Dr. Malone and the school committee on February 9th will present to the joint meeting the school budget. Dr. Pigeon from the Shoa Valley Technical High School on February 5th uh
will be they'll release their budget. uh there is a chance that that assessment might increase some due to increased enrollment uh but we'll have more information. So those are two other bigger pieces of the overall budget.
We're also hopeful on February 9th that the ASRSD will uh be able to share some information as Lisa mentioned on their planned reimbursement and so forth. Um,
so in terms of Wednesday night and if Cindy you could p pull up the last PowerPoint and for the purposes of this we're largely what we're looking for input from the byboard is sort of concepts in the
presentation on Wednesday. I'm going to sort of pull up what we did last year. Um, we're in the process of obviously updating all of the numbers. Um, and I apologize that I don't have that this afternoon, the new numbers, but this was
what we did um, last year. So, um, what did I screw it up? Hang on. >> Um, what are you seeing? >> I see the cover page and then the next slide.
>> Okay, hang on. It's wrong screen. Is that better? >> Yep. And then can I turn it or who's got control? >> I can give it to whomever or I can do it. >> All right. If I I if you turn it over to me, I can turn it.
>> Okay. >> You got it. >> And where where do I press for that? >> I just use your arrows. forward and backward arrows >> not moving. >> I'm sorry. >> Try just clicking on it
>> anywhere. There you go. >> Okay. So, >> Robert, just one minute. Down in your lower lefthand corner, do you see the arrows? That's what you're going to use. >> Got it. Okay. So what we've done every year and I welcome any input on the
first one is we because it's public information is we've sort of done an overview on the budget process. So this would be updated uh with the appropriate dates but sort of an overview of the overall process.
Looking at some of our successes, you know, our our free cash stabilization so forth. Again, some of our other successes. looking at the free cash history. Talking a little bit about that. Same with the stabilization
fund balance, capital stabilization. do an omnibus sort of overview. Again, sort of a higher level of what the budget's at, the increase at that time, some of the highlights we have just talked about,
some of the building blocks yet to be put in place, the budget drivers. Um, these were the drivers from last year. of course drivers this year some of the contractual personnel increases
putting in sort of the major drivers in the budget. Again, these were last year's wage and expense analysis. new items in the omnibus budget. Um unlike last year, there's actually
fewer, but we would identify those items uh so the public understands uh you know what those are and those are usually also generate um questions. of course a revenue overview and what we talked about we'd largely be using the
revenues that you have obviously with the caveat to folks it's it is a process there are variables it's very conservative approach next steps in the process leading up to the you know the next forum
and then directing the public to the information and then what I we envision like we did last year about 15 minute presentation open it up to select board and fin members for any questions comments and
then after the select board and the fincom opening it up to the the public and I've made attendance mandatory for all department heads so all departments uh will be there to answer um any questions and I think the It won't be a huge challenge, but
obviously this is all going to be done on Zoom. It would be great if we could do it in person, but hopefully that'll be in uh 2022. Uh we should have good attendance. When the select board did the police forum in October, uh we were able to facilitate
that Zoom meeting with about 80 people on it. So, one >> you're expecting 80 people for you're expecting 80 people. >> I'm expecting 200. A couple people have already asked. >> So I'll give you my and and Carly will
make it obviously have a little bit of a different look from from last year. Conceptually I think this is a good approach. The things that I probably would add and when I say add is probably a slide for each of these may do a slide
after the budget process part just on COVID 19 and the budget. maybe show you know the car's fund ceiling how much we've accessed because a lot of folks tend to ask what has been the impact of COVID on the budget and fortunately it
hasn't been huge knock on wood but maybe a slide on that I also think we should have a slide on the stabilization fund uh I mean on the reserve fund like we've talked about um because the question will come up at
town meeting and people well people are thinking that in other words oh we're in this pandemic what about reserves how does that work so I think we should have a slide on the reserve fund um proposal other things that folks would like to
see or not see or things that we should bring up not bring up >> Robert I think that the presentation for sure has and, you know, we've been really fine-tuning it over the past three or four years. I think we have a
lot of good content in there. Uh, obviously open to suggestions, but we don't want to overdo it, but I think we we've got a lot of good info. >> Yeah, >> I think I like it how it is as well. Obviously, what's driving the budget and
things are going to be updated to more reflect this year, but I like it. >> I I agree with Carly. I like I like familiarity and so there's consistent from year to year on what you're presenting. If I want to look, I can go back to last year's and say, "Oh, what
did they say last year? How what do we look like this year?" But then you have to Yes. Yeah. I agree that you have to add slides to update your significant events or, you know, changes in processes, etc., etc. So, I I I like the format. I like the way it flows. Um, it
it answers a lot of the questions. So, Okay, >> we will Oh, go ahead, Scott. >> I I think I I just concur with everyone else. I I think the presentation is high level enough without getting down into the weeds that it gives a good overview
of the budget. And then, you know, I'm sure we'll get quite a few or a handful of questions around certain budget line items from our our groupies on the budget. Great. So,
what we're going to do then and and we always want I agree with everything that folks have said and this is helpful. This is why we have this buy board and like Mark Smith was saying there's value to having and we put a lot of work in this all of you over the last few years
to get to this point last year. It has been refined having sort of a consistent consistent format and theme with of course a couple of additional slides and we always add a couple of give it a new flare if you will. That's usually Carly's department
but um we I would like to get this to you all obviously before Wednesday to just take a look at it because I value editorial eyes. So, um, if you'd be willing, I mean, today, uh, like I said,
we're in the process of of getting all of the numbers and everything, um, together. The beginning of next week, zap it out to you all, give it a quick look. Any, you know, we always miss something or that, you know, sort of
little editorial review and then we'll proceed on Wednesday. And the other thing for Wednesday, we'll have this will be the primary shared screen, but we'll also have the omnibus budget in case we need to call that up and some of
the other um documents. And we'll make sure we keep pushing to the public, especially where we're remote, go to that 2022 budget page and everything um is there as we update it.
So related to this, just so folks know, uh also the the select board opened the town meeting warrant on Tuesday at their meeting on the 19th and the um so that process is underway. I'm going to ask, and Lisa brought this
up the other day, I'm going to ask all departments sooner than later about not just warrant articles in terms of the organization of the warrant, but it any departments that might have raise and appropriate articles because we've talked about this too. Those raise and
appropriate appropriate articles drive, if you will, the costs when we do the tax rate in the fall. and I'd like to have a sense of which ones are out there. Um, do they all have to be done?
What have you. So, I think that'll be a topic for our next meeting. So, we're aware that the omnibus is the biggest piece, if you will. Overall, we still have the two school assessments which are also equally large, but then there's
those articles and everybody if you the capital recommendations are also on the website. I think the capital planning committee uh did a very good job in that and was able to whittle down a lot of the initial requests and deferring some
of the vehicles and so forth. Um but if we have to look look there as well as we move forward. Anything else for Wednesday or any any other suggestions on the on the
presentation? Okay. Okay. So, in terms of next steps for this, our goal is before Wednesday to have a draft out to you. So, um you will we can offer any input on that would be
most appreciated. any new business. Uh just to remind the committee, which we sort of have standing on the table, if you will, we talked about um and uh Selectman Hood mentioned this at the select board meeting on the 19th. We've talked about
some future projects. One is a UDAG policy governing the use of UDAG funds. So that's still, if you will, on the table. We talked also about a real estate or real property acquisition
policy as well. If folks remember from the fall town meeting, >> the acquisition of land is a very unique and challenging thing for municipalities because you have to get into purchase and sales and so forth before town
meeting and in funding. So that was another sort of policy we a future potential policy we talked about. So, we get the UDAG that is there any other new business items or any pressing items that folks would like to either bring up
today or bring up for a future future meeting? >> Nope. >> Not anything. Thanks. >> Okay. >> I don't have any. >> Okay. And then in terms of scheduling a next
meeting, um we definitely I feel should obviously meet in February. Um do folks want me to send out some dates and times. Do you want to set that up now? Um Thursday at
two has seemed to be working and we appreciate that for folks who are working to make that work. What are folks thoughts on setting up a meeting? >> I was just looking at the calendar because I think sometimes when we don't set one, it kind of gets away from us. >> Agreed.
>> What about the 18th? February 18th at 2. >> Works for me. >> Clear. >> That'd be Thursday. Everybody take a look. Thursday, February 18th at two. >> Yeah. Timing wise, that would probably
be good because we'd have a lot of these missing pieces to discuss by then. They will have fallen into place. >> First days of two are real good for me. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I'm I'm good for that. >> I'm good also.
>> All right. Good point, Kylie. I think it's better that we have it in the book to plan. So, we'll plan for Thursday, February 18th at 2 PM. Great. >> All right. Is there anything else for the buy board? We appreciate everybody's
time and input. And if there isn't, we'd be looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make motion to adjurnn by board at 253. >> A second. >> Motion made by Scott Hood, seconded by
Pat Diamond. Roll call. Barbara Tierney. >> I. >> Pat Diamond. Hi >> Mark Smith. >> Hi >> Scott Hood. >> Hi >> Carly Antonellis. >> Hi >> Lisa Gabri. >> Hi. >> And Robert Preand says I. It's
unanimous. We're adjourned. Thank you all.